Thank you!

I’m leaving the Palm Coast Observer with memories and friendships I will cherish forever.

When I became the Observer sports writer three years ago, I had little-to-no expectations about my job. I just knew I would be covering sports. Simply put, I was wrong. You all have allowed me to do so much more — to become one of your family members — and I will truly miss our journalist/reader relationship.

First and foremost, I will miss telling your stories. I’m often told that I’m a great writer, but I always say great stories write themselves. From writing about Flagler Wolfpack’s cancer survivor Josh Windham to Nysean Giddens getting to play basketball in front of his father for the first time (award-winning column) to covering a Palm Coast Little League wedding at the ball fields, I have been extremely honored to share stories that probably would’ve never been told.

I will also greatly miss making you laugh and cry at my personal columns. No matter where I go in Flagler County, I always get approached by readers who tells me how they look forward to my weekly editions. When I first began writing a column, I was intimidated because my colleagues’ columns were great. So, early on I decided to give the community the real me.

I’ve spoken a great deal about my Christian faith, my past and present struggles and shared many unpopular sports convictions, and I’ve received very little negative feedback — only about sports. You all have only showered me with kind, encouraging words, and I will forever be grateful.

I will miss participating in career days, business luncheons, grand openings and ribbon cuttings, because I met some incredible people at those events.

I’m happy to announce that I won’t be leaving Palm Coast. As the current youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, I will also become the high school English teacher at my church’s ministry — First Baptist Christian Academy in Bunnell.

Because I will remain in the community, I still plan to impact Flagler County as much as I can in any way I can. I may not show up to events with media credentials, but I will be there like most of you — supporting my new family members.

Thank you all so much for three incredible, exciting, blessed, unbelievable and memory-forging years that I will never forget.